Palo Alto Weekly 24th Annual Short Story
Contest
Second Place Children

About Phoebe Borthwick

I have a brother who annoys me and that is what inspired me to write this story. Although Thomas’s behavior is way worse, I can kind of relate to Maya. Writing has always been my favorite subject. I have a journal at home where I write stories. My mom used to be a Children’s Book Editor, so I can go to her for help.

LIFE WITH THOMAS
by Phoebe Borthwick

Ring! Ring! Ring!

“Okay students, have a wonderful day! And don’t forget to study for the math test!” said Ms. Smallwood.

Maya picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder. She thought she saw Jake Miller walk out the door talking to his best bud Simon. She tried not to look.

“Is everything okay, Maya?” asked Ms. Smallwood.

“Oh, um, yah. Everything’s fine.”

She spotted her two best friends, Isabella and Natalie.

“Hey!” said Isabella smiling.

Maya smiled back. They always walked home together.

She saw her brother, Thomas, come running. “MAYA!!!!!!” he shouted, hugging her so tight she could hardly breathe.

“Aargh!” Maya shouted. “How many times have I told you? I need my space!”

“Oh, I’m sorry!”

Maya rolled her eyes.

“It’s okay Maya. Just relax,” said Natalie.

At least you don’t have to live with him!”

There had always been something a little strange about Thomas. He was always going to all kinds of therapists to work on his “issues,” as her mother put it. Or, as Maya liked to call it, mental problems!

“Did you guys get invited to Caroline’s pool party?” asked Natalie.

“Of course!” Maya said, “and so did Isabella. She told me.”

“I hear Jake is going to be there,” said Natalie.

“No way!” said Maya.

“Yah, he’s Caroline’s brother!”

“Wacha talking about?” asked Thomas.

“Nothing you need to know,” said Maya.

“Please!” Thomas begged.

“No!” said Maya. He was always getting in other people’s business.

By the time they got home Maya practically felt like slugging him. Thomas was bugging her the whole way home about what she and her friends were talking about.

“No!” There was no way he could get her to tell him.

“Pretty please!” He was really getting on her nerves now.

“If I tell you will you stop bugging me?” Maya groaned.

“Yes, yes, yes! I promise! Just tell me please!” Thomas looked as if he were about to have a heart attack.

Maya sighed. “We were talking about this girl in my grade who is having a pool party. Then Natalie told me that Jake Miller was going to be there.”

“Who’s Jake Miller?” asked Thomas.

“Um… he…uh is…someone I met in… Canada.”

“You never went to Canada!” said Thomas.

“I have. You just, uh…weren’t there!”

“You like him, don’t you?”

“No! Now be quiet or you’ll end up without a head!”

“I LIKE MY HEAD! I LIKE MY HEAD!!!” wailed Thomas.

“Oh, will you shut up!!” shouted Maya. But that only made it worse.

“Hey what’s all the noise?” Mom was standing in the door. Maya tried to look as innocent as possible. She hid her wailing little brother behind her back, and smiled as innocently as she could.

“Come inside,” said Mom. Maya went inside and sat down at the table for a snack. Thomas plopped himself down in front of the TV and started to watch Batman. That seemed to calm him down.

“Mom, have you decided if I could have a slumber party this year?” asked Maya. Her birthday was coming up and she really wanted a slumber party.

“Your father and I have decided that you can as long as you invite no more than six people.”

“Yessss!” said Maya. The Batman theme sounded from the living room.

“B-B-B-Batman!!!” shouted Thomas.

“NO!” cried Thomas contemptuously. “NO, NO, NO, NO! I WILL NOT EAT MY BROCCOLI! NO!” He pounded his fists on the table.
Maya covered her ears. Why did he have to throw a temper tantrum every time he had to eat his vegetables
“Just two pieces of broccoli, ” said Mom, “and then you can have dessert.”

Maya’s mouth dropped open. She sat there stunned. Thomas, her own brother, had just ruined her life!

Maya couldn’t pay attention in class. She was too worried about what Jake would say the next time he saw her. She felt like a complete idiot. Would he run away, too afraid to talk to her? Or would he scream, “You’re so gross, I can’t believe you!”

She didn’t want to know. All she knew was that it was all Thomas’ fault. That little devil of a brother was always making her life miserable. She put her head on her desk to hide her tears.

Maya saw Thomas sitting at a picnic table eating his lunch. Ray, Joe, and Andre were standing around him. What would Thomas be doing with such mean boys? She walked over to the pole at the play structure and listened.

“I don’t care!” said Thomas. “I’m okay the way I am. I think I’m cool! Peace out dudes!”

Thomas wouldn’t talk for the rest of the day. It wasn’t like him. He seemed so down.

All Maya could think about was her birthday party. It was that weekend. She could hardly wait! She had picked out her cutest party dress and her mom and promised to make the best cake ever! And best of all, no Thomas! Dad was going to take him out for the entire day. She went to bed that night feeling great.

“Do these streamers look good?” Maya asked the next morning. Her friends would be there soon and they were getting ready for the party.
“They look lovely!” admired Mom.

“Thomas will be gone, right?” asked Maya.

Her mom sighed. “Unfortunately, no. He was going to go mini-golfing with Dad but Dad has a lot of work to do so he won’t be able to take Thomas. Thomas doesn’t really have many close friends, so he can’t really have a sleepover with anyone.”

Maya’s mouth dropped open. “But you promised! Can you at least try to keep him busy?” Maya asked angrily.

“I’ll try,” she said.

The doorbell rang. Maya ran over to the door. It was her friend Robin.

“Hi, Robin!” said Maya.

“Hi, Maya. This is for you!” She handed over the present. It was beautifully wrapped.

“Thanks so much!” said Maya with delight.

After all of her friends had arrived they had a water-balloon toss. Maya really wanted to be partners with Natalie, but instead Thomas threw a fit because he wanted to be her partner.

“Mom! You said you’d keep him occupied!” yelled Maya.

“Please, Maya? Just this once. “

“Okay, fine. I’ll be his partner,” moaned Maya.

Then they had a three-legged race and again Maya had to be Thomas’ partner. Thomas was terrible at three-legged races so they lost.

Maya opened the door, walked in, and slammed it shut. She ran to her bed and buried her head in her pillow. It was soon soaking wet with tears.
Thomas ran, bawling, into his room.

Some nights she dreamed that she would wake up to find a normal, average, well-behaved brother. But that would never happen.

Her om came through the door.

“What do you want?” Maya sobbed.

“Shhh. It’s just me,” said her mom. She sat next to Maya.

“He’s such a freak!” cried Maya, sobbing even more.

“Oh, don’t say that,” said her mom, rubbing her back. “He has Autism, Maya. One of the problems he has is that he has a hard time understanding the people around him and their emotions.”

“Do you know how much he bothers me, Mom? Do you know how much he embarrasses me?” asked Maya.

“Oh, and you think I don’t find any of this difficult? Believe it or not, some of the things he does embarrasses me, too. But he doesn’t mean to be difficult. And you know what? He loves you very much, and he needs your support.”
With that she got up and left the room.

It was recess. Maya was sitting on the play structure. When she saw Ray, Joe, and Andre push Thomas, her eyes narrowed. She stormed over to them. This was her chance. Thomas needed her.

“Hey!” she shouted with rage. “Stop bullying my little brother!”

They just gave her a dirty look and turned back. She pushed them away from Thomas.

This writer did a wonderful job of showing the difficulties of life with a special-needs sibling. The writer really took to heart the advice to "show" rather than "tell" and the result is a very impressive story.